Animals on Campus
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Animals on Campus

At High Point University, we’re proud to offer a welcoming and inclusive campus environment. While we love animals, we also have a responsibility to maintain safe, clean, and accessible spaces for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Limiting animals in shared indoor spaces helps protect community members with allergies, medical conditions, and phobias, while also preserving the integrity of our learning and living environments.

To help us achieve that balance, we ask all guests to review the following guidelines when bringing animals to campus.

Service Animals & Emotional Support Animals

  • Service animals trained to assist individuals with disabilities are welcome in all public areas of campus, including academic buildings, residence halls, and dining facilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

  • Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are permitted only in campus housing bedrooms and must be approved in advance through the Office of Accessibility Resources. ESAs are not allowed in academic buildings, dining halls, or other campus facilities.

Personal Pets & Non-Approved Animals

To support the health and comfort of our community, personal pets and non-approved animals are not permitted inside:

  • Classrooms or academic buildings

  • Dining facilities

  • Residence halls

  • Athletic venues

  • Indoor campus events

Staying Safe Around Animals & Wildlife on Campus

High Point University is home to a variety of animals and wildlife. While most animals will avoid people, students should use caution and give wildlife and unfamiliar animals plenty of space.

Keep Your Distance

  • Do not approach, chase, feed or attempt to touch wild animals or unfamiliar cats and dogs.
  • Never corner or attempt to pick up an animal, even if it appears friendly.
  • Keep a safe distance from animals that appear sick, injured, unusually aggressive or disoriented.
  • Do not leave food or trash where it may attract animals to campus walkways, residence halls or other areas where students gather.
  • If you encounter a feral or community cat, allow it to move away rather than attempting to interact with it.

If You Are Scratched or Bitten

Animal scratches and bites can cause injury and may require medical attention.

If you are scratched or bitten:

  1. Immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and running water.
  2. Do not attempt to handle or capture the animal.
  3. Report the incident to Campus Safety as soon as possible so the appropriate campus personnel can respond and determine next steps.
  4. Seek medical attention if the wound is deep, continues bleeding, becomes red or swollen, or if you have concerns about infection or possible exposure to disease.

See an Animal That May Need Help?

Do not attempt to rescue, relocate or handle wildlife or feral animals yourself. Contact Campus Safety to report the animal and provide its location and a description, if it is safe to do so.

When it comes to wildlife, the safest approach is simple: observe from a distance, do not feed or approach, and give animals plenty of space to move away.